Apple Watch to reportedly have blood sugar-monitoring functionality; Camera band also a possibility

In an incubator that simulates the temperature of the human body, Apple Watch bands are placed in jars of artificial sweat to undergo analytical testing.
Apple

Word has it that Apple is boosting its future smartwatch with “game-changing” health features. The new report comes just days after the Apple Watch was proclaimed to have the ability to detect atrial fibrillation, one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias. The Cupertino, California tech giant’s watch is gradually becoming more than just a fitness tracker or an iPhone accessory.

Apple is said to have put about 200 PhDs on its payroll last year to boost its smart wearable’s enhancements. That kind of hiring spree demonstrates how serious the Mac maker is with smartwatch innovation. The company is taking health and witness into a whole new level.

According to a new report, Apple is set on incorporating glucose-monitoring functionality into its upcoming wearable device. The company is apparently taking on the diabetes epidemic with big things in mind. After all, close to 30 million people have the condition in the US alone, and that demographic is certainly a good target.

It’s going to be interesting to see how Apple incorporates the blood sugar-monitoring feature. It’s obviously going to be non-invasive even though glucose monitoring usually requires a rather painful and skin-penetrating procedure. The company isn’t just after convenient and accurate blood sugar monitoring, though.

The tech giant is also reportedly going to launch interchangeable “smart watch bands” packed with additional features. What’s more, the company is supposedly introducing the new innovation without upping the watch’s price tag. The blood sugar-monitoring functionality could be applied to the new smart band instead of the watch hardware.

It doesn’t stop there, however, as Apple is also reportedly trying to equip its upcoming wearable device with a camera and an extra battery slot. The additional cell power is interesting since the Apple Watch battery is robust enough. According to BGR, the iPhone maker has “identified the right part of the body and there’s so much more they can and intend to do with the watch.”

It seems that Apple is into health and wellness now like never before. Its popular smartwatch made headlines just recently for being able to detect a common heart arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation when used alongside the Cardiogram app (see related story below). It has 97 percent detection accuracy, 98 percent sensitivity and 90 percent specificity.

Apple has also recently acquired Beddit and its sleep-monitoring tools. The company is expected to install advanced wellness features and sleep-tracking capabilities into the Apple Watch and its other upcoming smart wearables.